Martin hometown favourite for the Brier

Kevin Martin has carried Alberta’s hopes to the Brier more often than any other curler in the history of the sport in the western province. But this year’s trip to the Canadian Men’s Curling Championship will be among the most memorable.

When the 2013 Tim Hortons Brier moves into Edmonton’s Rexall Place, March 2-10, it will represent his first appearance at the national championship in front of a hometown crowd.

Martin defeated Kevin Koe in the provincial final, Feb. 10 in Leduc, to earn the right to wear Alberta colours for a record-breaking 12th time. A win this year would make him the first player to skip five Brier championship teams, moving ahead of fellow Edmontonian Randy Ferbey and Saskatchewan’s Ernie Richardson.

He would also become the first skip to hoist the Brier Tankard in three different decades.

While it will be Martin’s first Brier in Rexall Place, it’s certainly not an unfamiliar venue for the veteran competitor. The home of the Edmonton Oilers was the setting for the dramatic victory over Glenn Howard in the final of the 2009 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings – the stepping stone to the team’s gold-medal performance at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

Martin will be joined at the Brier by fellow Olympians John Morris, Marc Kennedy and Ben Hebert.

“You Gotta Be There” when the home crowd cheers on one of the greatest legends of the roaring game. Reserve your seats in Rexall Place just by clicking here.